Executive Order N-33-20 (“Executive Order”) requires all individuals residing in California to stay at their place of residence except as needed to maintain continuity of operations in various critical infrastructure sectors. The State Public Health Officer developed a list of “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” to help state, local, tribal, and industry partners as they work to protect communities, while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security. That list is available online: https://covid19.ca.gov/img/EssentialCriticalInfrastructureWorkers.pdf.
The list includes, among others:
- Fire Mitigation Activities
- Support, such as road and line clearing, to ensure the availability of needed facilities,
transportation, energy and communications - Workers who support the manufacture and distribution of forest products, including, but not
limited to timber, paper, and other wood products - Vegetation management crews
BEST PRACTICES FOR CREWS
- If you feel sick, do not go to work. Reach out to your crew leader for direction.
- Use individual vehicles whenever possible for travelling to worksites, unless a minimum of 6
feet of Physical Distancing can be maintained in a van or bus. - If you normally meet at a central office location, do not go through the office on your way
to the job site. - Wear gloves and a mask when in groups or in public places.
- Respect each other’s personal space at all times.
- Have hand washing stations or antibacterial products available at, or near, the work site.
- Wash your hands when exposed to possible infection sources such as vehicles and shared
equipment such as radios. - Wipe down tools before, and after work with sanitizing wipes.
- Do not share tools if possible.
- Pack and bring your own meal unless one is provided for you from a reputable source.
- Do not share items such as chewing tobacco, vaping pens, cigarettes or food.
- If you share barracks, use all the above techniques.
In all situations use your common sense and utilize recommended Physical Distancing. Be courteous to your fellow workers and recognize this is a stressful time for all of us. Working together we can help reduce the transmission of Covid-19 as well as other more common viruses such as the common cold and flu.
